Syrian officials shut down nationwide internet
access on Thursday and closed Damascus airport as rebels mounted
offensives nearby and tried to advance on the capital from four
directions. Phone networks were also crippled in much of the country,
causing fear and confusion on both sides and fueling claims that a new
rebel push was gaining momentum.

Syria's
information minister blamed "terrorists" for the outage, but the
communications shutdown was seen as an attempt to stymie rebel moves as
militias try to co-ordinate an assault on Damascus.